Podcasts about irish tech news

As AI becomes more prominent in our daily lives, it is also reshaping the cybersecurity landscape. So how do Irish organisations and businesses build a stronger resilience against emerging threats? To find out more about this I spoke to Ivor Buckley Field CTO at Dell Technologies Ireland & Northern Ireland. Ivor talks about his background, multi-cloud, AI, cyber resilience and more. More about Dell Technologies: Dell Technologies is a global team united under a single purpose: to drive human progress through the power of technology. Through AI-powered automation and intelligence, their services help you enhance your IT and end user experiences to maximise innovation end-to-end. See more podcasts here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

The broadband market in Ireland is now flooded with providers all offering a myriad of deals. We know it's hard to find the perfect deal that suits your needs, but we're here to help. We've teamed up with Switcher.ie, the free and impartial price comparison and switching service, to find the best broadband deals available every month. Check back regularly to stay informed of the latest deals and offers, and visit the Switcher.ie website to order one of these great packages. Best Broadband Deals Take a look at eir's Fibre Broadband and Talk plan. Priced at €34.99 per month for the first year, you'll get unlimited broadband with speeds of up to 500Mb, along with unlimited off-peak local & national calls. Sign up before 30/01/2026 and get €100 off your eir broadband bill. eir also offers a range of good value plans, with varying contract lengths and speeds available. For just €30 per month for the first year, Pure Telecom's Purely Broadband offers unlimited broadband with speeds of up to 100Mb, ideal for surfing, gaming or streaming. Also, you can enjoy great value over the long term with Pure Telecom with a low out-of-contract monthly cost and no contractual annual price increase. Pure Telecom now offers full fibre 100Mb broadband, which you can avail of with their new Naked 100Mb Full Fibre Broadband, also priced at €30 per month for the first year. Vodafone can offer long-term savings with their Vodafone 500Mb Full Fibre Broadband - 24 Month plan. Priced at €25 per month for 6 months, then €40p/m thereafter, you'll get unlimited broadband with speeds of up to 500Mb. Vodafone broadband customers will no longer see a significant increase in their monthly price - (often called a "thereafter price') - once their minimum contract term ends. This means customers can enjoy savings and value in the long and short term. If you're on the lookout for speeds of up to 1Gb, check out Vodafone's 1 Gigabit Full Fibre Broadband for something a little faster. Available exclusively via Switcher.ie, this plan offers a 12-month discount. Priced at €35 per month, you'll get unlimited broadband with speeds of up to 1000Mb, great for larger households who need ultra-fast speeds for gaming, work, and entertainment. (If you've come across this article after some of these deals may have expired, check out our main Broadband Deals category page to find the latest offers) More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Klearcom, a leading provider of global contact centre testing solutions, has announced that it has surpassed 4,000 selection box donations to Waterford Food Bank. The Waterford-based company has donated selection boxes to Waterford Food Bank every year since 2022 and was on-site on the 18th of December to assist with packing efforts. All donations went directly to children in the local area through the charity's distribution partners. Waterford Food Bank, a non funded non profit programme of Buíon Phort Láirge (formerly Waterford Area Partnership), was established in 2017 to eradicate food poverty for some of Waterford's most disadvantaged communities. The majority of food parcels are delivered to St. Vincent de Paul service users but those in need can also be referred through Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) and Focus Ireland. All food parcels are given to families around Waterford City at no cost to the end user. Klearcom has been a long-standing supporter of the charity, with staff regularly participating in volunteering activities and awareness campaigns, including organising and distributing food parcels at the packing centre. Mark Rohan, Chief Operating Officer, Klearcom said: "At Klearcom, we believe it's now more important than ever to give back and support our local community. As Christmas can be a challenging time for many families, we chose selection boxes in the hope that they will spark joy for children and their loved ones in Waterford. I want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to our incredible staff for their generosity and commitment, and to Waterford Food Bank for their ongoing partnership and invaluable work." Karen Glancy, Foodbank Administrator, Waterford Food Bank said: "While giving back is important all year around, charities are often overrun with people seeking help during the festive period. I have seen firsthand the difference a donation such as this makes to our local community. It's important to remember that even the smallest things can make a big impact and I want to thank Klearcom for their endless generosity in making this possible." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Pure Telecom, the Irish-owned telecoms provider, has announced new results from its annual Connected Lives survey, which reveals that nearly one-in-four social media users (24%) have quit a social media platform because they disapprove of its owner, while 29% are considering doing so. The nationally representative survey of 1,001 adults in Ireland was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Pure Telecom. The research suggests that ongoing debates around platform ownership may be negatively influencing user sentiment, with 67% expressing concern over who owns the platforms they use, versus 33% who said it doesn't bother them. Social media users aged 18 to 24 are the most likely to turn their back on platforms due to ownership concerns, with 28% having already done so and 37% considering it. The research found that the majority of social media users (62%) are concerned about the personal information that platforms have stored about them, as they worry how the platform owner might use it. As such, 50% of users have updated their privacy settings in the past 12 months. Concerns surrounding platform ownership have led many to consider an alternative social media network and 64% of social media users expressed an interest in signing up to an 'ethical' platform. However, many social media users find this prospect too idealistic, with 54% believing no such platform could ever exist. Pure Telecom's research also explored what people are posting on social media - and how much doctoring is happening beforehand. Excluding filters, over a third (37%) of social media users admit to editing their photos. Interestingly, this was 10% more prevalent in men (43%) than women (34%). Of those who edit their photos, the top edited features are skin tone (23%), lines and wrinkles (17%) and facial features (15%). In addition to this, 24% of social media users admit to travelling somewhere primarily to get photos for social media, and the number of photos stored in people's smartphone libraries averages at more than 7,500. Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom said: "Social media ownership has become a divisive topic and it's interesting to see how the public personas of some owners are impacting the popularity of the social networks they lead. As concerns grow around data security and how ownership impacts personal privacy, our research indicates that users are losing faith in some platforms. "Despite this ongoing concern, our research found that 98% of adults are social media users, showing that people continue to seek online connections. At Pure Telecom, we are passionate about keeping those connections alive and delivering real value to individuals, households and businesses across Ireland." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

New data published by LinkedIn has revealed that labour markets across EMEA slackened in October, highlighting the growing competition professionals face to secure a new job. Job seekers are instead countering this trend by reducing their search intensity in favour of "job hugging" - the trend of staying put. In Ireland, job search intensity - the ratio of applications to applicants - fell by -3.9% year-on-year in October, over double the rate of decline in several EMEA-LATAM countries during the month, averaging at -1.5% YoY. Only the United Kingdom (down -9.4% YoY), France (-5.6%), and Germany (-4.4%) recorded higher falls than Ireland. Ireland continues to lead the way on flexible work Hybrid work remains the most popular flexible working option offered by companies in Ireland, with 37.3% of all job postings in October offered as hybrid. Ireland ties with the United Kingdom for the highest availability of hybrid across EMEA, above the average of 30.8% of job postings advertised as hybrid across the region during the same period. Ireland also ranks highly for pure remote positions, placing second in EMEA with 8.2% of all job postings offering the opportunity to work exclusively from home. Ireland ranks second only to the UK (8.6%) and also surpasses the European average (5.3%.) Remote roles remain some of the most in demand jobs, making up 14.7% of job applications in EMEA. Demand in Ireland was higher, with applications for remote jobs making up almost one in five (18.4%) job applications. Green talent more likely to land jobs LinkedIn's Green Skills Report 2025 has also revealed green talent is far more likely to secure a job, getting hired at a global rate of 46.6% above the global hiring rate. Across the world, Energy Management is the fastest-growing green skill category. The proportion of LinkedIn members that added this skill was 17.4% higher in 2025 than in 2024. A spike in AI-driven demand for energy and continued growth in renewable energy supply has led to these skills growing particularly quickly in the Technology, Information and Media and Utilities sectors. Commenting on the data, LinkedIn Ireland Country Manager Cara O'Leary said: "Internationally and in Ireland, we are seeing a trend where more workers are opting to stay in their current roles rather than actively seeking new opportunities. This is down to a more competitive jobs market as companies advertise fewer roles. This is coming through in our data where we have observed a decline in job search intensity, which fell by nearly 4% year-on-year in October. "At the same time, Ireland continues to stand out as a leader in flexible work, with hybrid roles now accounting for more than one-third of all job postings. Remote opportunities also remain highly sought after, with Irish workers applying to them at even higher rates than the European average. Flexibility continues to be a key differentiator for companies seeking to attract and retain the best talent. "Internationally and in Ireland, we're also seeing real momentum around green skills, with talent in this space being hired at rates well above the global average. As demand for sustainability and energy-related expertise accelerates, Irish professionals who invest in these skills will be exceptionally well positioned for the future." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook,...

Interview with Dorothy Creaven and Michael Cordner at AWS re:Invent Dublin-based startup Jentic was the first Irish company to complete the AWS Generative AI Accelerator, which concluded recently at AWS re:Invent in Las Vegas. The company is now focused on building enterprise awareness of its platform, supported by the launch of its AI Readiness Scorecard and its listing on AWS Marketplace. Founded in 2024 by Sean Blanchfield, Michael Cordner, and Dorothy Creaven, Jentic applies middleware and enterprise integration engineering to AI adoption, focusing on how APIs are defined, governed and safely executed by automated and agentic systems. AI adoption with API readiness platform Jentic Jentic operates at the integration layer, working with existing enterprise systems and APIs to make them clearer, more structured and more governable. This allows organisations to connect AI systems to real business infrastructure in a controlled and observable way, without replacing existing platforms or bypassing established security and compliance processes. Built on Enterprise Infrastructure Experience The company's approach is shaped by the founders' backgrounds in building large-scale infrastructure. Blanchfield previously co-founded Demonware, acquired by Activision Blizzard, and PageFair. Cordner co-founded Mindconnex, while Creaven previously led Rent the Runway's Irish operations. Speaking to Irish Tech News at AWS re:Invent, Michael Cordner, CTO of Jentic, said many enterprises are now encountering limits in how their systems were originally built. "We got away with cutting corners for 20 years when we were developing APIs for developers," said Cordner . "But now we're trying to let AI loose on those same APIs, and the standards are much more stringent. Even the most intelligent AI in the world is useless without the right information on how to actually use a system." From Jentic's perspective, the current interest in AI exposes long-standing weaknesses in enterprise integration. Automated systems can reason and decide, but they can only act through APIs. If those interfaces are poorly documented, inconsistently structured or weakly governed, behaviour becomes unpredictable. "We're a business logic and infrastructure layer for AI agents," explains Dorothy Creaven, COO of Jentic. "Software has always been built on APIs, but for AI to connect properly to enterprise systems, there has to be something that can make sense of those APIs and turn them into workflows organisations can rely on." Addressing Enterprise Control and Governance A recurring issue Jentic encounters with enterprise customers is organisational hesitation. Senior leadership often wants progress on AI strategy, while technology and security teams are concerned about control, traceability and risk. "Everyone is afraid to let AI loose in their organisation," Creaven observes. "There's a real concern about what systems might do when nobody is watching, whether actions can be traced, and how failures are handled." To address this, Jentic's platform includes a sandboxed execution environment that mirrors production APIs. This allows organisations to test AI-driven workflows, observe behaviour and understand failure modes before anything is connected to live systems. "We provide an environment that mirrors real APIs, but in a way that's safe," Creaven comments. "You can see exactly what's happening, with auditability and logging, and you can only move forward once you're confident the behaviour is correct." Launch of the AI Readiness Scorecard This approach underpins the launch of Jentic's AI Readiness Scorecard, a free, automated assessment tool introduced at AWS re:Invent. The scorecard evaluates APIs across multiple dimensions, including structure, security, documentation quality and discoverability. According to Jentic, its analysis of more than 1,500 well-known APIs highlights repeated gaps. These include missing authentication details, invalid OpenAPI specifications, i...

Bank of Ireland is urging customers to stay alert to 'Smishing' scams over the festive season, as fraudsters try to exploit consumer behaviour by sending them fraudulent text messages during the busy shopping period. With online shopping and parcel deliveries at peak levels, scammers are sending texts that look like they've been sent by trusted delivery companies, motorway toll services, utility providers, Government agencies or even from the banks themselves. These fraudulent messages often include links to fake websites designed to steal card or online banking details or trying to pressure consumers into paying a delivery or customs charge or update bank account details. Other "smishing" texts will contain a fake phone number that, when called, connects you to a fraudster posing as a representative of the company or from your own bank. Bank of Ireland is also reminding customers that its dedicated fraud support team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout Christmas and into the New Year. Last year Bank of Ireland's fraud prevention team received over 10,000 calls from customers during the peak holiday period (23 December to 29 December), with 550 calls received on Christmas day alone. As part of Bank of Ireland's four-point plan to prevent fraud, it has called for the introduction of legislation to allow an SMS scam filter to be deployed in Ireland. This filter would help stop SMS fraud attempts before they happen. Ireland is currently out of step with other English-speaking countries in not having an SMS scam filter in place. This filter would operate like the spam filters that are applied to email inboxes by detecting and blocking harmful links or content. Key advice for consumers: Do not click on links or reply to text messages looking for payment. Remember toll operators, banks, delivery companies, utility providers and Government agencies will never send a text linking to a website that asks for your online banking details or full card details.Check the identity of the sender. Call the company in question using their legitimate phone number. Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud, Bank of Ireland said: "Unfortunately fraudsters see the Christmas holidays as an opportunity to exploit the consumer rush to get all the festive shopping done, and at this time of the year Bank of Ireland's fraud team always sees a wide range of "smishing" scams impersonating well-known companies. "Our advice to consumers remains the same, keep your guard up and treat every unsolicited call, text, or email as a potential fraud attempt. Our dedicated fraud team is working around the clock, even over Christmas and into the New Year, to protect and support our customers. If something feels suspicious, trust your instincts and contact us straight away. "Ireland is out of step with other English-speaking countries in not having an SMS scam filter, leaving Irish consumers more exposed to fraud attempts. We would strongly support the introduction of an SMS scam filter in Ireland, which requires legislation, as it would help block many of these fake text messages." Bank of Ireland customers can call the Fraud Team 24/7 on the Freephone line 1800 946 764. See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

For me, it's a time to wind down and slow down. A time to do some creative stuff, e.g., read the book on your bedside locker that you've been promising to read, or the book you will be given as a present. I recently joined a book club and have read and enjoyed books I would never have considered, while making new acquaintances, hearing other people's points of view, and being surprised by their observations. The image above is the cover of one of my all-time favourite books. I would make a perfect holiday read or gift. It's Peter Sheridan's memoir of growing up with his brother Jim and the rest of his family. My memories of the book: Erecting the TV aerial and the sad story of conkers up the chimney. Here is another suggestion: Take a little more time for you, and exercise: Nothing strenuous, this is a lovely time to take a walk in a park, up a low hill or on a beach, on your own, or with someone close to you. You will find it much easier to talk shoulder to shoulder. (This particularly applies to men.) I used to feel envious of people sitting chatting over coffee, as I rushed about the city from one meeting to the next. I have changed and now build in some white space in my day and visit a lovely building, be it a church, a library, or a gallery. It's not 15 to 30 minutes wasted, I believe it's recharging, and in this time, your creativity will kick in, and the issue/problem nagging at you will offer up a solution. You can make small changes that have big effects: Please take time over the holiday break to meet old friends, while creating opportunities to meet people who, in time, may be added to your small group of old friends. Very few people have dozens of good friends; we are more likely to regard acquaintances and good buddies as friends, but they're not until you put the effort into creating opportunities to engage with these people in new situations or occasions. I'm setting myself the goal over the break to re-engage with family and people I have not connected with recently. Why don't you do the same! Thank you for reading my articles, and I look forward to your continued support in 2026. By Executive Coach Andrew Keogh of Aristo.ie More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

As Christmas time is fast approaching, I thought it would be the right time to catch up with the most famous and busiest person in the world, Santa Claus. Times have changed and Santa has his elves busy in his North Pole workshop using the latest technology to build toys, books and other gifts for boys and girls all over the world. I also caught up with Ruth Roberts the Co-Owner of Cogs Toys and Games who were featured on this year's Late Late Toy Show, to see what their big sellers will be this Christmas. Here at Irish Tech News we like to promote Irish businesses and its great to see a family owned Irish Toy Shop do so well.Santa Claus and RuthIt's an interesting fun filled podcast as Santa talks about the technology he uses to help travel around the world on Christmas Eve, Easons best selling kids books, the toys Ruth mentioned, what not to leave out for Rudolf and more. Ruth who is also on the podcast mentions some of their big sellers, Irish made toys and STEM toys too.More about Cogs Toys and Games:Cogs Toys & Games (formerly known as Cogs The Brain Shop) is the definition of a family-run business, run by brother and sister Conor Brady and Ruth Roberts and their cousin Alan Condon. As the ‘Brain' in the name suggests they sell smart and unique toys, puzzles, games and books for all ages.They also stock a genius collection of fun quality products designed to build better brains and learn through play whatever your age. In the store you can find children's educational toys, adult brain games, strategy games for children and adults.They have a fantastic, affordable range of clever games, puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, wooden toys, wide range of unique desk toys and brain teasers. Cogs The Brain Shop also supply schools with word skill games, fast talking games, mathematical games, reading games and toys, games which are recommended for dyslexia, games which are recommended for ADHD.

Dell Technologies today announced a major advancement in hybrid cloud innovation through the integration of Microsoft Azure Local with Dell Private Cloud and Dell PowerStore. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in simplifying IT operations for enterprises, delivering a unified approach to managing diverse workloads across hybrid and multicloud environments. The conversation around enterprise IT has shifted dramatically. Businesses are no longer faced with a binary choice between public cloud and on-premises infrastructure, nor is it simply about running traditional versus modern workloads. The real challenge lies in managing these varied environments consistently and efficiently. Dell Technologies, in partnership with Microsoft, is addressing this challenge head-on by introducing Azure Local support for Dell Private Cloud and Dell PowerStore, creating a seamless experience for organisations seeking flexibility, performance, and enterprise-grade resilience. Hybrid Cloud now has Azure local integration Dell Private Cloud represents the first Azure Local offering to deliver a full-stack solution encompassing compute, external storage, and networking from a single vendor, backed by end-to-end solution-level support. This integrated approach simplifies the complexity of hybrid and multicloud management, enabling businesses to focus on innovation rather than infrastructure. With automated lifecycle management, independent scaling of compute and storage, and a future-ready disaggregated architecture, Dell Private Cloud empowers organisations to adapt to evolving demands without disruption. Complementing this is Dell PowerStore, Dell's flagship enterprise all-flash storage platform. PowerStore brings advanced data efficiency, flexible scalability, and robust security to Azure Local environments, ensuring critical workloads remain protected while delivering exceptional performance. Its ability to handle both traditional and modern workloads makes PowerStore the ideal partner for businesses modernising their IT operations without compromise. Caitlin Gordon, Vice President of Product Management for Private Cloud and AI Solutions at Dell Technologies, said: "The conversation around enterprise IT is changing. It's no longer about choosing between public cloud and on-premises infrastructure. Nor is it a simple decision between running traditional or modern workloads. Today, the real challenge is how to manage all of these different environments and application types together, simply and consistently. By bringing Microsoft Azure Local to Dell Private Cloud and PowerStore, we're helping customers simplify their IT operations and unlock the full potential of their hybrid cloud strategies." This integration is more than a technical milestone; it reflects Dell Technologies' commitment to helping customers navigate the complexities of modern IT. Together with Microsoft, Dell is delivering solutions that meet the evolving needs of businesses, from hybrid cloud to edge computing and beyond. Early access for this combined offering is expected to launch in spring 2026, paving the way for organisations to embrace a future-ready infrastructure that drives innovation and growth. See more breaking stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

As Christmas time is fast approaching, I thought it would be the right time to catch up with the most famous and busiest person in the world, Santa Claus. Times have changed and Santa has his elves busy in his North Pole workshop using the latest technology to build toys, books and other gifts for boys and girls all over the world. I also caught up with Ruth Roberts the Co-Owner of Cogs Toys and Games who were featured on this year's Late Late Toy Show, to see what their big sellers will be this Christmas. Here at Irish Tech News we like to promote Irish businesses and its great to see a family owned Irish Toy Shop do so well. Santa Claus and Ruth It's an interesting fun filled podcast as Santa talks about the technology he uses to help travel around the world on Christmas Eve, Easons best selling kids books, the toys Ruth mentioned, what not to leave out for Rudolf and more. Ruth who is also on the podcast mentions some of their big sellers, Irish made toys and STEM toys too. More about Cogs Toys and Games: Cogs Toys & Games (formerly known as Cogs The Brain Shop) is the definition of a family-run business, run by brother and sister Conor Brady and Ruth Roberts and their cousin Alan Condon. As the 'Brain' in the name suggests they sell smart and unique toys, puzzles, games and books for all ages. They also stock a genius collection of fun quality products designed to build better brains and learn through play whatever your age. In the store you can find children's educational toys, adult brain games, strategy games for children and adults. They have a fantastic, affordable range of clever games, puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, wooden toys, wide range of unique desk toys and brain teasers. Cogs The Brain Shop also supply schools with word skill games, fast talking games, mathematical games, reading games and toys, games which are recommended for dyslexia, games which are recommended for ADHD. See more podcasts here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

With the Christmas season now in full swing, there is a lot of events taking place all over the Emerald Isle, and thanks to Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) we can see where these events are happening. Esri Ireland's digital map of fun-filled events happening around Ireland this festive season, will keep you informed of whats happening and where its happening.. The interactive, easy-to-use StoryMap will help yuletide revellers to navigate what's on across the island of Ireland this Christmas. From markets and festivals to light shows and ice-skating, there is something to suit all ages and interests. The festive map includes a Web App enabling the public to search for events by county and location, to make planning your festive adventures even easier. See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Data Edge, Ireland's most experienced network optimisation and application performance management specialist, has announced a new partnership with data protection provider DropVault. Irish-headquartered DropVault is led by international encryption and cybersecurity expert Neal O'Farrell, who has spent four decades in the global cybersecurity industry working with international governments, the military, and financial networks. DropVault automatically encrypts all conversations and documents created or shared within its portals before they even reach the server. This zero-visibility design bolsters security for businesses - ensuring that even DropVault cannot access customer data - while providing full audit trails for compliance. Founded in 2020 and with offices in the US and Dublin,DropVault supports clients across education, automotive, engineering, and aviation - including a global airline using the solution for $100M+ aircraft leasing transactions. Data Edge is now adding DropVault's highly secure solutions to its portfolio, helping to protect Irish businesses and their customers from communication-based threats such as data breaches, business email compromise, wire fraud, and ransomware linked to insecure file sharing. Designed for organisations operating in heavily regulated industries, DropVault enables teams to share confidential documents securely, carry out private encrypted conversations, and maintain full visibility and audit trails to support compliance with standards such as GDPR, ISO 27001, and the upcoming NIS2 directive. This ensures that businesses can operate securely and confidently as cyber threats continue to rise. Data Edge has partnered with DropVault due to its expertise in securing organisations' digital infrastructure. Data Edge and DropVault will provide peace of mind to businesses with guaranteed data sovereignty for critical information, with built-in anomaly detection and defensive monitoring against suspicious access attempts. Neal O'Farrell, CEO, DropVault, said: "Too many organisations still rely on email, phone calls, and text messaging to share sensitive discussions and documents, and often with only rudimentary security measures in place. "At a time of global uncertainty and the surge in AI assisted cybercrime, DropVault can help companies maximise the security, privacy, confidentiality, and integrity of their conversations, discussions, and documents. And all without the challenges and frictions that come with most traditional security measures." Paul Phelan, CEO, Data Edge, said: "This partnership combines DropVault's world-class data protection capabilities with our expertise in delivering top-tier network security offerings to businesses. DropVault's unique position in the encryption space will provide invaluable insights and streamline ways of working for customers. "It will enable us to effectively secure organisations' most valuable data, while helping them to stay one step ahead of would-be hackers. As methods of attack are evolving at an unprecedented pace, this solution will underpin operations for organisations dealing with highly sensitive or confidential information and allow the day-to-day running of the business to continue uninterrupted." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

AI agents are moving from experimental tools to everyday enterprise workflows. Reporting live from AWS re:Invent 2025 in Las Vegas for Irish Tech News, I attended a press-only briefing titled Security and the Rise of AI Agents, where senior AWS leaders Amy Herzog, Chief Information Security Officer, Hart Rossman, Vice President in the Office of the CISO, Gea Rinehouse, Vice President of Security Services and Neha Rungta, Director of Applied Science outlined how the company intends to manage this transition. AWS is pushing ahead with autonomous agents, but only within a security model built on long-standing principles: identity, governance, compliance and clear oversight. What is an AI Agent? An AI agent is a software system that uses artificial intelligence to carry out tasks autonomously in pursuit of a specific goal. Unlike chatbots that only respond to prompts, an agent can reason, plan and take action across different steps of a workflow. It can use tools such as web services or APIs, monitor its progress and adjust its approach as conditions change. Over time, it can improve its performance based on the data and experience it gathers. This distinction matters, because the rise of agents raises new questions about accountability, access, oversight and safety. Security First AWS chief executive Matt Garman shaped much of the week's discussion. Speaking about the reality facing engineering teams, he noted: "Every customer wants their products to be secure, but you have trade-offs. Where do you spend your time? Do you improve the security of existing features, or do you ship new ones?" The briefing returned to this point several times. AWS's position is that strong design-stage security reduces the tension between improvement and innovation. Agents are seen as an opportunity to reinforce security, not dilute it. AWS Security Agent One of the major announcements at re:Invent was the preview of AWS Security Agent. The tool brings several security checks forward in the development process. It reviews designs, analyses code, gathers richer signals for incident response and performs penetration testing that reflects real system behaviour rather than generic patterns. AWS Security Agent is one of the new Frontier Agents introduced at re:Invent, a family of autonomous tools designed to handle multi-step tasks across development, security and operations. Neha Rungta described the significance of this shift. She called the Security Agent "one of these frontier AI agents, a sophisticated class of AI agents that are autonomous and scalable and can work for long periods without human intervention. Security doesn't have to be an afterthought." She added that AWS is expanding its proof-based assurance tools so teams can understand correctness without being specialists in system logic. The broader point is that verification needs to be continuous, not episodic. Guardrails for Autonomy The panel stressed that agents must operate within strict boundaries. Updated policy controls in Amazon Bedrock AgentCore allow organisations to specify what an agent can do, which systems it can reach and how its actions are logged and reviewed. Hart Rossman remarked that each major technology shift has increased the demands placed on security teams. With agents running for extended periods and across more systems, the real pressure points now are scale and speed. Guardrails are essential. The Sandbox Approach A theme repeated throughout the session was the use of sandbox environments. AWS encouraged organisations to test new agents in isolation before considering production use. This allows teams to observe long-running behaviour, confirm access paths, check escalation rules and understand how an agent reacts under different conditions. The sandbox was presented as a practical way to build confidence gradually rather than relying on assumptions. Inside the Press Briefing Questions focused on monitoring autonomy, preventing agents from widening their scope...

The ISPCC is honoured to announce that GroSafe, the technology-enabled safeguarding platform designed to combat child grooming through education, support and reporting, has received the Prize Award from Research Ireland's National Challenge Fund in the OurTech pillar. This acknowledgement of potential of GroSafe to have an incredible impact on the lives of so many children and young is extremely welcome and will enable the GroSafe team to make a true societal impact. By empowering children and caregivers through this platform, the GroSafe team aims to build societal resistance, reduce exploitation and foster a culture of safe and trusted disclosure. The project is led by TU Dublin's Dr Christina Thorpe and Dr Matt Bowden and ISPCC's Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Fiona Jennings, acts as Societal Impact Champion. The GroSafe project is one of six research teams across four challenge programmes under the National Challenge Fund, to receive part of €8 million in prize phase funding. Funded by the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Fund calls on researchers to identify problems related to Ireland's Digital Transformation and work directly with those most affected to solve them. Fiona Jennings, ISPCC Head of Policy and Public Affairs, said the project is specially focused on how children and young people are groomed into criminality or for sexual exploitation purposes."We are extremely grateful that the possibilities offered by GroSafe have been acknowledged by the Prize Award from Research Ireland's National Challenge Fund. "The GroSafe team has gone to great lengths to ensure that the voices of stakeholders were heard and that their needs and requirements were understood. In particular, I believe that the engagement with children is the perfect example of true participation in action. "The ISPCC wants to particularly acknowledge the steadfast vision, dedication and determination of the leadership provided by Dr Christina Thorpe and Dr Matt Bowden. They have ensured that the GroSafe potential for real societal change will be realised. "As Societal Impact Champion, I am increasingly convinced that the only way to meaningfully tackle child grooming is by working together cohesively and respectively. I also want to acknowledge the incredible input of Research Ireland. I have been hugely impressed by the design of the National Challenge Fund competition and the continuing support and mentoring offered by members of Research Ireland throughout the process." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Viatel Technology Group has achieved Cisco Premier Provider Status, marking another significant milestone in its partnership with Cisco. Following a rigorous audit process, Viatel also achieved Cisco Powered Service designations in Meraki Security & SD-WAN and Meraki Access. Cisco Powered Services is an elite designation for partners that have demonstrated their expertise in delivering outcomes built on Cisco technologies. To be designated as Cisco Powered, services must be organised into a structured portfolio with the requisite personnel, certifications, and technology to guarantee the highest level of quality and expertise. This achievement follows Viatel's success in securing three other key Cisco specialisations earlier this year: Customer Experience Specialisation, Cisco Select Integrator, and Environmental Sustainability Specialisation. Sheila Greaney, Cisco Partner Account Manager, commented: "Viatel's attainment of Premier Provider Status reflects their unwavering commitment to delivering best-in-class solutions. The audit highlighted a knowledgeable and professional team that demonstrated excellent teamwork. From their comprehensive onboarding and detailed ticketing system to their vibrant marketing, Viatel's dedication to the customer experience is evident. With a customer first ethos and an exceptional Net Promoter Score, Viatel is setting the benchmark for excellence in the Irish market." Eilish O'Connor, CTO, Viatel Technology Group, added: "Achieving Premier Provider Status is the latest chapter in our Cisco success story. Viatel has been a pioneer in the field of Cisco SD-WAN networking, deploying hundreds of sites across nationally and internationally. Our team of certified Meraki specialists delivers a fully managed service that allows organisations to maintain secure, high-performance connectivity while they concentrate on their core business." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

By Chris Burge, Co Founder and CEO of Spark Venture Funding. I spend much of my time meeting founders who want to shape the future of technology. Every so often a company appears that does more than participate in a growing market. It expands the market itself. And Social Voice is one of those companies. A blind spot in social media analytics, Social Voice solves this problem Video now dominates platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Yet most analytics tools can interpret only the text that surrounds a video rather than the words spoken within it. Titles, hashtags and comments receive scrutiny. The audio track does not. Social Voice argues that this gap accounts for ninety three per cent of brand mentions online. The company's technology is designed to close that gap at scale. It can process an hour of video in under ten seconds and combine audio and imagery to present brands with a complete view of their actual presence on social media. This approach challenges long standing assumptions in the consumer intelligence market, a sector now worth almost nine billion dollars a year. With the creator economy reaching an estimated two hundred and fifty billion dollars, the demand for more accurate insight is rising sharply. Commercial validation and strategic partnerships What sets Social Voice apart is that it is not entering the market with an untested concept. The company has already secured early customers and has formed a global partnership with Meltwater, one of the world's largest social intelligence companies. More than two million euro has been invested in the technology to date and the company holds granted patents in the United States and other key jurisdictions. This foundation, combined with a team that has a track record in building and exiting technology ventures, places Social Voice in a stronger position than many early stage AI companies competing for investor attention. Key investment highlights The company is seeking seven hundred and fifty thousand euro for nine point seven per cent of the business. This places Social Voice at a pre money valuation of seven million euro. Social Voice qualifies for the thirty five per cent EIIS tax incentive which reduces the effective cost of investment for eligible investors. The minimum investment is two hundred and fifty euro. Spark Venture Funding does not charge investors commission. For investors who are excited by deep tech, this is a rare chance to support a company that is still early but already proving itself in the market. A new standard for social media intelligence Fergal Lennon, CEO of Social Voice, often explains the current analytics landscape with a simple analogy. He compares it to a radio that shows the song title without letting the listener hear the music. Social Voice aims to change that. If spoken content becomes a mainstream metric for brands worldwide, the company's technology could redefine how social intelligence is gathered and interpreted. Campaign now live The Social Voice equity funding campaign is now open on the Spark Venture Funding platform. Investors can review financial details, product information and a campaign video outlining the company's vision and technology. More details are available here. Author bio: Chris Burge is the CEO and co founder of Spark Venture Funding, one of Ireland's leading platforms for early stage investment. Since 2018 he has worked with thousands of private investors and dozens of high potential Irish companies to help channel private capital into innovation. See more breaking stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a rang...

New initiative to strengthen repair preparedness for fibre-optic cables in the Baltic Sea. Tykoflex and Baltic Offshore make a joint announcement Background - increasing demands on digital resilience More than 95 percent of global international data traffic is carried through submarine fibre-optic cables. In the Baltic Sea, Tykoflex and Baltic Offshore, together with Lilaco Offshore, have for many years demonstrated a strong and proven capability to rapidly restore damaged infrastructure when incidents occur at a relatively stable and predictable fault rate. New fibre-optic initiative aims to make the repair model more scalable A new program is now being launched to further develop this model into an even more scalable and future-proof repair preparedness system, initially focused on the Baltic Sea. The objective is to enable rapid mobilisation of standby resources when the number of incidents rises sharply. The heightened risk of multiple simultaneous outages driven by the current security environment places new demands on material availability, competence and operational capacity. Sweden's Minister for Civil Defence, Erik Slottner, says: "Strengthening repair capability in the Baltic Sea directly increases our resilience and reinforces Sweden's digital independence by creating more alternative routes when incidents or disruptions occur." The study focuses on: • ensuring rapid access to the right equipment and repair materials • developing training to build and maintain offshore fibre-repair readiness • increasing the ability to quickly release and adapt vessels and equipment that normally operate in other sectors • further developing Tykoflex's universal jointing system, Seaflex®, for future sensors such as SMART cables and actively repeated cable systems Richard Petterson Wigh, CEO of Tykoflex, says: "The Baltic Sea already has a strong repair model that has proven effective in real-world situations. This initiative clearly shows how industry and government can work together to build a more resilient society." Natalie Franzén, CEO of Baltic Offshore, says: "There is a clear need to be able to free up vessel resources, but perhaps even more importantly, operational competence. Experience and know-how take time to build and maintain to ensure practical repair capability, and it is crucial that we work proactively. We are pleased that this study will allow us to further strengthen repair preparedness in the Baltic Sea." EU funding enabling the initiative The initiative is carried out within the programme "How repair preparedness can stimulate resilient and diversified fibre optic cable systems", funded by the Connecting Europe Facility - Digital (CEF Digital). The project is undertaken by Tykoflex and Baltic Offshore as part of the European Union's broader efforts to strengthen Europe's digital infrastructure and resilience. Ongoing information and updates about the project will be published at: www.subsearesilience.com See more breaking stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Ibec, the group representing Irish business, has called on the Irish Government to increase investment in defence and security. According to Ibec, ongoing global conflicts require increased efforts to ensure Ireland can protect itself and the businesses that operate here, adding that robust security is the bedrock for business, ensuring security of supply, the ability to transact, and confidence in the rule of law. This call coincides with the publication of Ibec's latest priorities paper for Ireland's upcoming EU Presidency, which focuses on security and defence as essential elements for future-proofing European resilience in the context of global instability. Danny McCoy, Ibec CEO, said: "The world has changed fundamentally in the last five years. Europeans realize that our defence and security infrastructure is very vulnerable to external attack. Defence is not just about militarisation. However, we cannot simply avoid militarisation when the rest of our European Union colleagues- the Union, which is the domain for our economic success and prosperity- are increasing their capabilities. We must be part of a secure Europe." "This does not involve abandoning our neutrality, and we need to ensure, in having realistic conversations about our defence capabilities, that we do not conflate the two. However, neutrality does not mean being defenceless. Being part of the defence of Europe is to make our contribution, and this can be in non-lethal aspects like radar systems and cybersecurity." "Within Ireland, we need to ensure we have the people and capabilities to defend us in our seas and in our air. While the Government has committed to achieving Level 2 of the Commission on Defence Forces' ambition by 2028, a truly comprehensive national defence capability would necessitate aiming for the Level 3 capability within that timeframe rather than beyond it, which requires an investment of approximately twice the current policy commitment. Businesses rely on our ability to protect our undersea cables, our grid connection, energy, and defend against cyber threats, among others. We saw with the visit of President Zelenskyy last week and with Ireland's EU Presidency fast approaching, that our vulnerabilities are going to become more scrutinised internationally. In the future world of investment, the realities of business will require a country to be able to prove that it can defend and secure its assets. So this is of paramount national importance, not just in protecting ourselves but also ensuring future prosperity." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

EnergyCloud, the Irish charity focused on energy poverty, has published the first of its monthly Wasted Clean Energy Reports. This is a monthly analysis of renewable energy lost and the missed opportunity to lift households out of energy poverty. In January 2025 the Government published the Programme for Government and committed to use surplus renewable energy, that would otherwise be wasted, to help those in fuel poverty, ensuring that the whole community benefits. Since this commitment over €414 million in renewable energy has been wasted, an equivalent of €1.3 million per day and enough renewable energy to have heated over 390 million tanks of hot water. This waste is occurring during a cost-of-living crisis when, according to the ESRI, 550,000 homes are in energy poverty and at a time when over 300,000 homes are in electricity arrears. Metric Value Source Days since Programme for Government commitment to use surplus renewable energy to help those in fuel poverty 314 Programme for Government January 2025 Renewable energy wasted (kWh) 1,169 GWh EirGrid to 31 October Approx. retail value of wasted energy (€) €414 million Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland Equivalent tanks of hot water heated 390 million EnergyCloud average 3 kWh/tank Average waste per day (€) €1,318,000 Calculated See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Ireland's cybersecurity sector delivered its strongest year in 2024, closing 40% more VC deals than in 2023 while European cybersecurity funding fell 9.5%, according to a new report powered by PitchBook data and published by Enterprise Ireland. This performance helped Ireland maintain its position as first or second in Europe for cybersecurity VC deal count per capita every year since 2017. Enterprise Ireland participated in more than three-quarters of all deals over the past decade, making it Europe's leading cybersecurity investor by deal count. This sustained ecosystem support has enabled Irish cybersecurity companies to launch, scale rapidly and attract world-class global investors - most recently demonstrated by Tines' €120.7 million Series C raise in Q1 2025, which was led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives, one of the largest venture rounds ever secured by an Irish-founded company. Key highlights from the report: • Since 2014, Irish cybersecurity companies have raised over €450 million across more than 100 VC transactions. • Irish firms such as Tines, Siren, UrbanFox, Cytidel and Vaultree are winning global enterprise and government clients with automation workflow, investigative intelligence, AI-driven threat detection, vulnerability prioritisation and fully encrypted data-in-use solutions. • Ireland is home to over 140 pure-play cybersecurity companies and has ranked first or second in Europe for cybersecurity VC deal count per capita every year since 2017. • The sector currently employs more than 8,100 professionals, projected to grow to 17,000 by 2030. Anna-Marie Turley, Head of Fintech, Financial Services and Cybersecurity at Enterprise Ireland, commented: "Ireland continues to punch well above its weight in European cybersecurity investment, consistently attracting top-tier global investors. With Irish solutions now trusted by leading enterprises and governments worldwide for AI-driven threat detection, investigative intelligence and regulatory compliance, we are seeing unprecedented international demand. Looking ahead, cybersecurity is set to become an absolute non-negotiable priority for organisations everywhere. This positions Ireland's ecosystem for sustained high-growth investment and global leadership in the years to come." The full report, Ireland's Cybersecurity Landscape, is available for immediate download at Ireland's Cybersecurity Landscape | Enterprise Ireland See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Interview with Alan Wyley of EnergyCloud by Billy Linehan from AWS re:Invent in Las Vegas At AWS re:Invent this week, I sat down with Alan Wyley, CEO of EnergyCloud, to talk about one of the most ambitious social energy projects in Ireland. What unfolded was a conversation about technology, poverty, energy policy and the practical ways Ireland can use wasted renewable energy to heat homes. This article is part of a series of interviews from AWS re:Invent for Irish Tech News. A career that blends tech and social impact Alan's career has followed an unusual path for a tech entrepreneur in Ireland. Trained as a chartered accountant, looking back he commented "I didn't last long at that, and so I went into tech early on." He helped scale two CRM companies, including one acquired by Sage. Later he was brought into EuroCommerce, a payments software business serving airlines and the travel industry, and helped scale and sell it twice, the final time to MasterCard. Between these ventures he repeatedly stepped away for one or two years. "When I'm in, I'm in," he told me. "Seven days a week. Then I stop. I take time out. Personal development matters. My family matters. I didn't want to be one dimensional." Running parallel to his commercial life is a long commitment to support organisations with a community focus. He has chaired Barnardos, chaired the board of the Darndale Belcamp Village Centre, and today chairs Southside Partnership. "I've been volunteering since I was 16. I have a social conscience and I've always been interested in tackling issues around deprivation, poverty and early intervention." Why EnergyCloud was the right next step One morning perusing LinkedIn, he saw an advert for a CEO job. EnergyCloud at that time was little more than an idea, with no staff and very limited funding. But the mission caught him. "It was perfect," he said. "A startup mindset, a social problem, and a way to use my skills." EnergyCloud's core proposition is simple: take surplus renewable energy that Ireland currently wastes and redirect it to households that are in energy poverty. "Our mission is to end energy poverty. Not ease it, not reduce it. End it." Most of this surplus is wind energy. According to Alan, Ireland curtailed roughly 10.5 percent of its wind output last year. Solar curtailment is rising too. In the Northern Ireland, curtailment is even worse. "It's wasted. All paid for by taxpayers." EnergyCloud began in Ireland and is the first of its kind. Sister initiatives in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Germany have since followed the Irish model. What is energy curtailment? Curtailment is the intentional reduction of power generation (like wind or solar) or consumption to balance electricity supply and demand on the grid, preventing instability, overloads, or blackouts, often happening when renewables produce too much energy for the grid to handle, leading to wasted power. The scale of the problem Alan cited an ESRI estimate of 550,000 households are in energy poverty. That is about one and a half million people. These households spend more than ten percent of their net income on energy. Ireland also has some of the highest electricity prices in Europe. "And last year," Alan said, "we wasted 450 million euro of renewable energy. This year, from January to September alone, 341 million. That's 1.4 million euro a day." A simple device with immediate impact The technology is disarmingly straightforward: a smart immersion controller installed in a hot water tank. "We connect to the public EirGrid signals. When curtailment is happening, we switch on the device. The resident wakes up with a free tank of hot water." Installation takes about an hour and costs around 500 euro per home. The difference for families is significant. "These households often never turn on the immersion. Now they tell us they can wash their kids properly again. They can clean with hot water. It can be transformative." At present, curtailment gives roughly...

KINTO Join Ltd, the leading provider of full service ESG solutions, has announcesdthe launch of its new 360° sustainability solution, KINTO Zero. This is an end-to-end service featuring expert consultancy, an ESG reporting platform, and practical actionable tools - including the sustainable mobility platform, KINTO Join. Merging global standards with innovative technology, KINTO Zero helps organisations to reduce their carbon emissions and enhance their sustainability performance. Supported by Toyota Financial Services under the global KINTO brand, the platform enables organisations to collect and track data and generate audit-ready, compliance reports. In turn, it supports carbon accounting, reduction and offsetting pathways. As part of the KINTO Zero solution, organisations also gain access to professional ESG consultancy services. These include Double Materiality Assessments (DMA) - to access a company's priorities for their ESG strategy and reporting, comprehensive gap analysis, and the creation of tailored action plans. The solution also provides guidance on all reporting requirements - such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which requires organisation to lower their carbon footprint and is set for widescale adoption in 2026. Alongside reporting capabilities and consultancy services, the offering includes access to the KINTO Join platform which allows organisations to benefit from and implement sustainable mobility solutions. To celebrate the launch of KINTO Zero, KINTO Join Ltd. is inviting organisations to avail of its enterprise-grade commuting carbon calculator, free of charge. Using greenhouse gas (GHG) protocol, the calculator assesses an organisation's commuting emissions through a customisable survey. This enables them to better understand how their staff or students travel and track commuting emissions over an extended period of time. From a business perspective, the launch of KINTO Zero is expected to accelerate growth for KINTO Join Ltd. and strengthen its position in the growing ESG reporting software market, which is currently valued at $1.29B and is projected to be worth approximately $3.9B by 2032. As well as meeting the increasing demand for transparency and accountability in corporate sustainability, KINTO Zero will see KINTO Join Ltd. better support its customers and commuters in Ireland. Its recent piece of research - Ireland on the Move report - revealed that 39% of commuters believe their university or workplace has a responsibility to take action to meet sustainability goals and regulations. However, only 26% believe their university or workplace is doing a good job at meeting sustainability goals and regulations. Patrizia Niehuas, CEO, KINTO Join Ltd., said: "The introduction of KINTO Zero to our service offering further strengthens our position as a leading player within corporate sustainability. By integrating KINTO Zero with KINTO Join, organisations will not only be able to track and report their sustainability metrics more effectively but also take meaningful action towards reducing their carbon footprint. "As regulatory requirements and employee expectations continue to grow, adopting sustainable practices has never been more important. It also makes sense as organisations can empower their people and help the planet. These individual steps to drive towards ESG goals will ultimately spearhead a more sustainable future that we can collectively enjoy." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line ...

Lithium-ion batteries are powering our daily lives, from phones to e-bikes to electric cars, but they also bring a silent risk most workplaces aren't prepared for. Many don't know that traditional firefighting techniques often make these fires worse, and without public awareness, communities remain exposed to catastrophic incidents. EHS International is a leading provider of Environmental, Health and Safety services in Ireland, with offices in Cork, Dublin and Belfast) has said many Irish businesses are now scrambling on this, with training on fires related to Lithium-ion batteries increasing 10% in the past year. Derry Cronin the Business Development Director of EHS International also flagged that many do not have policies in place on the issue. I recently caught up with Derry to learn more about this. Derry spoke to me about his background, battery disposal, e-scooters and more More about EHS International: EHS International provide their clients nationally and internationally with the broadest range of Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) services available on the market today. These include comprehensive EHS Services Delivery and EHS and Safety related Projects. As well as EHS related Acquisitions and Investment and EHS Technology solutions divisions. These are all led by experts in their respective fields. See more podcasts here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Fixify, a leading provider in AI-driven IT support automation, has selected Cork City as the home of its new EU Centre of Excellence, creating 50 skilled jobs in the region over the next 18 months. The new facility will serve as a regional base for Fixify's development, support, and customer success for worldwide operations. This project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland. Attending the event, Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD said: "This announcement from Fixify to select Cork as the home of its new EU Centre of Excellence demonstrates a deep commitment to the region and creates 50 high-tech jobs in an exciting and growing sector. I have no doubt that these highly skilled jobs in IT, software engineering and data analysis will be a further boost to the workforce in the region. I want to acknowledge the role of IDA Ireland in supporting this project and I look forward to seeing the continued growth of Fixify in Cork over the coming years." Minister for Enterprise Tourism & Employment Peter Burke TD said: "Fixify's decision to establish its EU Centre of Excellence in Cork is very welcome news and is a strong endorsement of Ireland's position as a global leader in technology and innovation. This investment will bring 50 high-quality jobs to the region and further strengthen our thriving digital ecosystem. Cork's deep talent pool, supported by world-class institutions like UCC and MTU, and its proven track record in attracting and sustaining high-value FDI, make it ideally placed to support Fixify's growth. I wish the Fixify team in Cork the very best for the future." Fixify is now hiring in roles including IT Helpdesk Analysts, Software Engineers, Data Engineers, and Data Scientists. To explore career opportunities with Fixify, please visit Fixify careers. "We chose Cork for Fixify's European base - a city that brings together deep technical expertise, quality of life and community spirit - the conditions that make great work last," said Matt Peters, CEO Fixify. "Establishing our base here enables Fixify to tap into Ireland's exceptional talent and contribute to its thriving tech ecosystem as we scale automation and support that remains genuinely human worldwide." "Our investment in Cork is a strong vote of confidence in Ireland's technology talent and infrastructure," added Caroline Coughlan, Director, Employee Experience & People Operations at Fixify "Over the next 18 months, we will be scaling our presence here in parallel with delivering outstanding value to our customers across EMEA." IDA Ireland CEO Michael Lohan said: "I am very pleased that Fixify has chosen Cork as home to its EU Centre of Excellence as it recognises the quality and depth of the South West region's talent pool, Ireland's vibrant culture, and our pro-business environment. I wish to congratulate Fixify on this expansion and look forward to supporting them as they enhance Ireland's reputation as home to a thriving technology sector" See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

The official launch of CyberQuest, a major new cross border project that will transform digital and cybersecurity opportunities for young people aged 16 to 25 across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland, took place last week in Belfast and is supported by PEACEPLUS. The programme is delivered by The Bytes Project in partnership with REIM Training Solutions, YouthAction Northern Ireland, Springvale Learning and Foróige. REIM Training solutions a local company based in Castleblayney serve as the lead training partner for this ambitious and inclusive initiative. CyberQuest offers a full learning pathway that takes young people from digital basics through to industry recognised certification. The programme uses a hybrid, trauma informed and youth led approach designed to be flexible, welcoming and accessible. CyberQuest aims to strengthen confidence, improve resilience and support leadership development. It also creates clear routes into further education, apprenticeships and employment. Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: "CyberQuest is an ambitious and timely initiative that opens doors for young people to gain real skills, build confidence and take their first steps into meaningful careers in this high growth sector." Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD said: "CyberQuest will address a critical skills need while enabling access to education and training pathways for young people across communities." SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: "PEACEPLUS aims to improve access to inclusive and quality services in education and training. CyberQuest is an important step in that direction." Eimear Murphy, Managing Director at REIM, said: "CyberQuest is not just about filling the digital and cyber skills gap. It is about transforming lives, creating inclusive pathways, building resilience and leaving a legacy of knowledge and capacity within the youth sector." All partners look ahead to the next phase with real commitment and pride, and are united in their role in supporting the next generation of cyber talent across the island of Ireland. See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

We will be reviewing one of the hampers shortly, so here is some more information about Bodega Hampers in the meantime. You can see more on their website here also. Bodega Hampers, a newly founded business imagined by Irish couple Saoirse O'Brien & Robbie Dobbyn, today announces its official launch, introducing a premium collection of artisanal Spanish food and wine hampers to the Irish market. Inspired by a recent family relocation to Valencia, the couple & their Irish based team and Co-Founders, Ciaran Bergin and Julian Kulkarni, have crafted a gifting experience that delivers the vibrant flavours and craftsmanship of Spain directly to doorsteps across Ireland.. Bodega Hampers in partnership with Vegamar Bodegas Through an exclusive partnership with renowned Spanish winery Vegamar Bodegas, along with collaborations with other leading Spanish producers, Bodega Hampers offers a curated taste of Spain previously unavailable in the Irish gifting market. Each hamper celebrates the richness of Spanish gastronomy, from award-winning wines and cavas to artisanal olive oils, Iberian delicacies, and gourmet treats selected for quality, provenance, and authenticity. "We wanted to share the incredible products and producers we've discovered since moving to Valencia," said Saoirse O'Brien, Co-Founder of Bodega Hampers. "Our hampers are more than gifts, they're a way to experience Spain's flavours, traditions, and craftsmanship. Whether for companies seeking meaningful gifts or individuals wanting something special for loved ones, we're bringing a little piece of Spain home to Ireland" For Corporate Gifting Bodega Hampers offers tailored solutions for businesses looking to elevate their gifting strategy. With beautifully presented hampers, premium contents, and dependable nationwide delivery, the offering is ideally suited for year-end appreciation gifts, client gestures, employee onboarding & recognition, event gifting, and more. For Personal Gifting Individuals can choose from a range of thoughtfully crafted hampers that make memorable gifts for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, or any occasion deserving a luxurious and meaningful touch. Many customers also simply treat themselves - bringing the warmth and flavour of Spain into their own home. Key Highlights Exclusive Irish partner of Vegamar Bodegas, one of Valencia's most respected and award-winning wineries Curated hampers featuring premium Spanish wines, artisanal foods, and gourmet delicacies Available for corporate gifting and personal gifting Nationwide delivery across Ireland Christmas orders close on 12 December 2025 Customers can explore the full collection at www.bodegahampers.com. About Bodega Hampers Founded in 2025 by an Irish couple who relocated with their family to Valencia, Bodega Hampers was created to share the exceptional flavours and traditions of Spain with customers in Ireland. With a focus on premium quality, sustainability, and authenticity, every hamper showcases the craftsmanship of Spain's finest producers. Bodega Hampers delivers nationwide and offers bespoke gifting options for both corporate and private clients. See more breaking stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Irish consumers are being targeted by increasingly sophisticated online scams, according to a new set of case studies released by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). The warning comes as Black Friday and Cyber Monday kick off the busiest shopping period of the year, creating prime opportunities for scammers to steal from unsuspecting shoppers. With recent research revealing that almost 40% surveyed expect to make a purchase in the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales, the CCPC is advising consumers to be extra vigilant and to stop and think before rushing into making a purchase. The case studies, which date between November 2024 and August 2025, reveal losses ranging from €42 to €20,000 and highlight the wide range of methods used to scam consumers. These include fake websites, phishing emails, fraudulent job offers, rental accommodation scams, and investment fraud. The CCPC is warning consumers to be especially wary of ads on social media, as scammers are using convincing clones of trusted websites and fake local shops to trick shoppers. To stay safe, always purchase through the retailer's official website or app rather than clicking on the social media link. Stop, search and stay safe To help consumers shop safely during the peak shopping season, the CCPC advises following these three simple steps: Stop: Scammers often create urgency to pressure quick decisions. If something feels off or too good to be true, stop and think before engaging further. Search: Remember that logos, "about us" pages and imagery on websites can be fabricated. Always take a minute to check sites like Trustpilot or Reddit for independent reviews. Stay safe: Watch out for common red flags, including unusually large discounts - "up to 80% off", unfamiliar websites, recently created social media profiles, and all five-star reviews. Always use a credit card, debit card or trusted payment provider, rather than a direct bank transfer. Grainne Griffin, director of communications at the CCPC, said: "As the busiest shopping season of the year kicks off, it's important that consumers avoid rushing into online purchases and transactions. Online scams have become more and more sophisticated, using convincing images and stories and carefully tailoring their ads to seem like they're a trustworthy business. "For the sake of your finances and your safety, take care when shopping online. Don't let tactics like time-sensitive offers or countdown clocks pressure you into making a decision you might regret. "Do your research, take your time, and don't take risks, no matter how tempting the deal - you can lose an awful lot of money in just a few clicks. Always use a credit card, debit card or trusted payment provider like PayPal, rather than a direct bank transfer." What to do if you've been scammed when shopping online If you think you've been scammed, contact your bank or payment provider immediately. You may be able to initiate a chargeback and get your money back, and you may need to freeze your card to prevent further money being taken. An Garda Síochána are responsible for pursuing scam operators, so contact your local Garda office and report it. For information on the different types of scams and how to spot them, visit ScamUniversity.ie. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Klearcom, a global leader in AI-driven IVR and telecom testing, has ranked third in Deloitte's list of the fastest growing technology companies across the island of Ireland. The Waterford-based company, who recently secured an investment from London-based private equity firm, Synova, received its official listing at this year's Technology Fast 50 Awards. The event took place in the Round Room at the Mansion House in Dublin. The Technology Fast 50, running since 1999, is one of Ireland's most prestigious technology award programmes and celebrates innovation and entrepreneurship within the industry. At last year's ceremony, Klearcom received the Rising Star accolade in honour of their promising growth trajectory and future potential. This year represents a major milestone in the company's journey, driven by its expanding market share in the IVR sector and the establishment of its physical base within the US. Klearcom specialises in AI-powered contact centre testing solutions, identifying and resolving issues in telecoms infrastructure for multinational companies such as Pfizer, Google, and Mastercard. Building on this year's success, the company is embarking on ambitious expansion plans for 2026 and are actively recruiting across the entire organisation. This includes senior leadership roles such as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), Chief Product Officer (CPO), Head of Engineering, as well as multiple roles across the sales department. Speaking about the company's official ranking, Liam Dunne, CEO and Co-Founder, Klearcom, said: "Our ranking of third on the Technology Fast 50 list is a standout highlight to what has been an exceptional year for Klearcom. We want to take a moment to thank Deloitte for this honour and our entire team for being instrumental to our success. "Following our partnership with Synova, we are incredibly excited to deliver on our vision for 2026. As we continue to scale globally, we are eager to welcome new talent across the organisation and invite prospective candidates to join our rapidly growing team. "Fuelled by this year's achievements, we look forward to reinforcing our position as a market leader in this space and achieve even greater heights in 2026 and the years ahead." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

LISA is a groundbreaking mission, led by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with NASA, to develop the largest observatory ever built. It consists of three satellites in a triangular formation, each 2.5 million kilometres apart, and aims to detect gravitational waves. Gravitational waves are formed by extreme cosmic events such as the merger of black holes and create ripples in the fabric of space-time. LISA stands for Laser Interferometer Space Antenna. Each satellite will emit a laser towards the other two and measure tiny changes in the distance between satellites due to gravitational waves. Despite the enormous distance between the satellites (six times the distance from the Earth to the Moon), the sophisticated optical instruments on board can pick up changes smaller than the size of a helium atom and hence detect gravitational waves. The results from the mission will shed light on what happens when black holes collide and provide insight into the origins of the universe, immediately after the Big Bang. Two Galway-based companies, ATG Innovation and EireComposites, will play key roles in the LISA mission. ATG will design the central tube (the chassis of the satellite) based on its patented lightweight, high-stiffness, grid-stiffened structural architecture, and EireComposites will manufacture and assemble the structure. This work will encompass everything from the manufacture of test components and structural assemblies to autoclave curing, bonding, and precision machining. Detailed inspections will be carried out to make sure each part meets strict aerospace standards, using non-destructive testing and dimensional checks throughout the build. By combining advanced computational modelling, hands-on manufacturing, and meticulous quality control, the partners will deliver reliable, high-performance structures that are central to the success of the LISA project. Jacob Pasqualotto, Director of Operations at ATG Engineering, commented, "Leading the Irish contribution to LISA alongside OHB and ÉireComposites is a privilege and a responsibility we embrace with pride. This mission takes gravitational-wave astronomy beyond Earth, extending our reach into the vast low-frequency universe where supermassive black holes and cosmic giants reveal their secrets. For us, this is more than engineering; it is Ireland's signature on the future of astrophysics. Tomas Flanagan, CEO of ÉireComposites, added, "Nearly everything we know about the universe comes from telescopes; LISA provides a completely different approach by focusing on gravitational waves instead of light. It's hard to believe that we'll be making structural carbon-fibre components for the largest machine that humanity has ever built and that we will be seeking evidence to support Einstein's general theory of relativity. The fact that we've been chosen by ESA to partner with ATG for this mission is a huge endorsement of EireComposites, ATG and the Irish Space industry in general." LISA Space Mission: Detecting Gravitational Waves More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and SAP, a global leader in enterprise applications and business AI, have signed a five-year deal to drive enterprise-wide Cloud and Generative AI transformation. SAP is on a journey to transform its operations through accelerated Cloud adoption and Business AI enablement, driving greater speed and efficiency. In line with this vision, TCS will help SAP in streamlining its complex IT landscape, enabling seamless IT operations, and strengthening AI-led capabilities. The collaboration will deliver faster development cycles, lower total cost of ownership, and greater alignment between IT and business goals. This collaboration builds on a two-decade old partnership with SAP as part of which TCS has set up and scaled Enterprise Cloud Services (RISE with SAP) as part of which TCS has contributed to transforming SAP's business model from license-maintenance to pay-per-use Cloud services enabling rapid scalability and agility. Over the next five years, TCS will focus on reshaping SAP's IT business function to accelerate innovation and improve responsiveness to business needs. Dr. Benjamin Blau, Chief Process & Information Officer, SAP, said, "TCS and SAP partnership is built on trust and excellence. TCS's unwavering commitment and collaboration to drive innovations across products has forged a long-lasting relationship with SAP. Together, we are simplifying our customer journeys and accelerating cloud adoption." TCS will support SAP in delivering critical services towards end-to-end lifecycle for IT applications in enterprise IT transformation through a unified, efficient, and AI-powered model. The engagement will be anchored by four strategic Centers of Excellence (CoE) for Generative AI, Business Technology Platform, Business Data Cloud, and Customer Experience. The CoE for Generative AI will drive innovation to embed GenAI capabilities and features within SAP business processes, the CoE for Business Technology Platform is designed to enable faster development of next-gen features based on low-code, no-code solutions, further the CoE for Business Data Cloud will help create uniform data architecture for SAP to productise enterprise data, and the CoE for Customer Experience will identify modern strategies to evaluate customer experience across the value chain. Together, these CoEs will support SAP in delivering solutions, technologies, and processes that empower its customers, partners, and employees to unlock newer avenues for growth. V Rajanna, President, Technology, Software and Services, TCS, said, "TCS and SAP have been a strategic partnership for more than two-decades, enabling enterprises to navigate complex digital transformation journeys. We support the "SAP runs SAP" philosophy and as we enter the next phase, this collaboration shall leverage transformative potential of AI and cloud to unlock new revenue streams, accelerate business growth, and deliver differentiated experiences for enterprise and their customers globally." Over the last two decades, TCS has remained SAP's trusted transformation partner of choice across the value chain. The alliance has enabled clients to unlock the full potential of SAP's enterprise cloud, business AI and data analytics capabilities. TCS has been operating in Ireland since 2001 and today employs over 1,100 people across its Dublin, Letterkenny and other regional locations. The company is recognised as one of the largest employers in the Northwest region. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@I...

Storm Technology, a Littlefish company, has announced survey findings which reveal that 27% of IT leaders are concerned about their ability to detect deepfake attacks over the next 12 months. This concern was felt by more respondents in larger enterprises (33%) than SMBs (23%). The research - conducted by Censuswide and involving 200 IT decision-makers and leaders across Ireland and the UK (100 in each market) - found that the biggest concerns around AI and security over the next year are data breaches (34%), data protection (33%), and increased risk of adversarial or cyber-attacks (31%). Meanwhile, a quarter (25%) consider shadow AI (use of unsanctioned or unpermitted tools) among their biggest concerns. This is not necessarily surprising given that half of respondents (50%) know that people in their organisation are using such tools and some 55% admitted to using unsanctioned or unpermitted tools themselves. Forty-two per cent of IT leaders also opined that company data is not safe for input into these platforms. Perhaps exacerbating this issue, just 60% of companies have been specific about which AI tools are sanctioned or permitted. More broadly, over a fifth (21%) of IT leaders do not have a high degree of trust in AI tools and almost a third (32%) of companies do not have a strategy in place to address any AI risks that arise. The research showed that 79% of IT leaders in Ireland and the UK agree their organisation needs to focus more on the regulation of AI tools and 28% do not believe their governance around AI tools is adequate. This rose to more than a third (35%) among Irish respondents. When it comes to AI and data, 24% of IT leaders do not think their business data is ready for AI, with a similar proportion (23%) of the opinion that that their data governance policies are not robust enough to support secure AI adoption. This could explain why 78% believe a data readiness project is required to ensure successful AI adoption in their company. Sean Tickle, Cyber Services Director, Littlefish, said: "AI is rapidly reshaping the enterprise landscape, but the speed of adoption is outpacing the maturity of governance. When nearly a third of organisations lack a strategy to manage AI risk, and over half of IT leaders admit to using unsanctioned tools, it's clear that shadow AI isn't just a user issue - it's a leadership one. "Deepfake threats, data governance gaps, and a lack of trust in AI platforms are converging into a perfect storm. To stay secure and competitive, businesses must invest in visibility, policy clarity, and data readiness - because without those, AI becomes a liability, not a differentiator." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Rugby fans and supporters at the recent South Africa versus Ireland game last weekend consumed over 2,000 GB of data, the equivalent of two million minutes of music streaming, according to Vodafone Ireland. The surge in data was driven by video recording, sharing and live streaming. Over 15,000 calls were made over the course of match-day - almost one third of the stadium made a phone call. During the Quilter Autumn Internationals, data usage at the stadium reflected strong engagement with fans attending the Japan game consuming almost 1,740 GB and Australia 1,771 GB. The fans at the South Africa game came in with the highest usage. Connectivity demand extended beyond rugby. At this summer's concerts featuring Lana Del Rey and Dua Lipa, attendees consumed 5,137 GB of data across two nights. On the Lana Del Rey night alone, usage reached 2,633 GB, roughly the equivalent of ten years of nonstop podcast listening. Vodafone Ireland invests over €100 million annually in network improvements across Ireland, including upgrades at the Aviva Stadium which focus on delivering uninterrupted mobile and 5G coverage. To meet growing demand, Vodafone Ireland has also implemented network enhancements at Aviva Stadium as part of its nationwide investment program. These include: Deploying 5G capacity and spectrum utilisation in busy sectors. Optimising radios and backhaul for peak-hour demand. Continuous monitoring to adjust parameters during live events. Commenting on the figures, Sheila Kavanagh, Director of Vodafone Networks Ireland, said: "The data and voice activity we've seen at the Aviva Stadium this year shows just how essential reliable connectivity is for sports fans and music lovers. Over the course of the South Africa match-day alone, over 15,000 calls were made alongside significant data usage. Our ongoing investment, including 5G upgrades in the Aviva and throughout the country, ensures we can meet this demand and keep people connected during the biggest and most memorable moments." Investment also supported major summer festivals and cultural gatherings across Ireland. Temporary network sites and spectrum optimisation were deployed at events such as Flavours of Fingal, Bord Bia Bloom, Kaleidoscope, All Together Now and Electric Picnic where attendees relied heavily on navigation, social media, and streaming apps. Across these events, Vodafone Ireland managed over 220 TB of data, the equivalent of streaming 73 million songs! As sponsor of Irish Rugby, Vodafone marked the autumn series with a creative activation in Dublin city centre. A mural by artist KinMx on Chatham Row, developed in partnership with Carat, The Collectiv and Rockshot, celebrated the sport and its supporters. See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

The largest student start-up programme in the country has been launched today in its 24th year. The Student Enterprise Programme, an initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, has seen over 500,000 students take part since it began. The Student Enterprise Programme, which is funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country, saw over 30,000 students from almost 500 secondary schools across the country take part in 2024/2025. Participating students will compete across three categories, Junior (1st year), Intermediate (2nd and 3rd year) and Senior (4th, 5th and 6th year, LVA, LCA and Youth Outreach). Each student enterprise is challenged with creating, setting up and running their own business, which must show viable sales of their service or product. The best student start-ups from each school will then progress to county and regional finals. Students will then be chosen to be selected for the National Finals on the 7th May, where the Student Enterprise of the Year for 2026 will be named, along with winners across the other categories. Gareth Evans, Chair of the Enterprise Education Committee, Local Enterprise Offices, said, "The Student Enterprise Programme really highlights the appetite for entrepreneurship within our school system. In recent years, we have seen a steady increase in participation year on year. There have been some amazing start-ups come out of Ireland, punching well above their weight internationally, and I think this is helping to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs here. "Irrespective of what these students go on to do in their lives they will have learned some invaluable skills taking part in this programme that will help them in their future careers. We're looking forward to seeing what the Student Enterprise Programme Class of 2026 put forward!" The second Alumni Achievement Award for the Student Enterprise Programme will also be handed out in May. The award celebrates former programme participants who have gone on to achieve exceptional success in business. The inaugural award went to sisters Kate and Annie Madden from Fenu Health. Participants in the Student Enterprise Programme in 2016, the company creates supplements for equine health and their customers include five royal families. This year will also see a new award with a Start-Up Stories Competition. This competition is for Junior Cycle students only, and it asks them to imagine themselves as an entrepreneur at a future stage of their lives, having set up a business. Students are asked to write their fictitious story of how they became an entrepreneur, came up with their idea, got funding, overcame obstacles, lessons learned and skills they needed. The objective is to get students thinking and developing ideas around entrepreneurship. The Student Enterprise of the Year for 2025 was "Cannon PC" from Clonkeen College, Dun Laoghaire in County Dublin. The start-up, created by student Jack Cannon, built upcycled high-speed gaming PCs from old PCs being disposed of in office clear-outs and for general sale online. Cannon PC achieved €40,000 in sales while also saving 1,000 kg of e-waste every year. For more information on the programme, visit https://www.studententerprise.ie/. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Tik...

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions, operating a global delivery centre in Ireland, has extended its long-standing partnership with ALDI SOUTH - a leading international retailer- to manage their infrastructure and application services and improve stability and IT operations efficiency. This comprehensive, multi-national agreement further solidifies TCS's position as ALDI SOUTH's trusted partner, supporting the retailer's core values of simplicity, consistency and responsibility. The partnership encompasses ALDI SOUTH's operations across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Hungary, Italy, the United Kingdom and Ireland, the United States and Australia. TCS will deploy its AI-enabled Cloud Operations Solution and advanced digital services to stabilise, modernise, and optimise ALDI SOUTH's IT infrastructure, enhance cyber resilience, accelerate automation and boost operational efficiency. Leveraging TCS' extensive experience in the retail sector, this partnership will reduce costs and complexity while supporting ALDI SOUTH's commitment to delivering reliable, value-driven customer experiences globally. This partnership is built on a shared focus on service excellence, seamless integration of legacy and modern systems, and dedication to innovation and sustainable growth in the retail industry. Building on years of successful collaboration between both organisations, this renewed partnership positions TCS as a key enabler in ALDI SOUTH's digital advancement by supporting automation, stability, and faster time to market. Together, the two organisations are modernising core systems, strengthening operational resilience, and laying the groundwork for adaptive, future-ready retail operations across ALDI SOUTH's global markets. Daniel Koch, International Technology Officer, ALDI DX, said, "We are pleased to extend our collaboration with TCS to accelerate our digital transformation. Together, we will modernise infrastructure, drive automation, and deliver improved outcomes for our business and customers worldwide. This partnership ensures that ALDI SOUTH is well positioned to respond with agility to the evolving demands of global retail." Abhijit Niyogi, VP and Business Unit Head, Retail - UK, EMEA and India, TCS, said, "This expanded collaboration is a testament to the trust ALDI SOUTH places in TCS to deliver at scale. By leveraging our deep retail expertise along with advanced cloud, automation, and AI capabilities, we will simplify and modernise ALDI SOUTH's technology landscape, strengthen operational efficiency, and enable them to respond with agility to evolving market demands. Together, we are building a future-ready, customer-centric model of retail that creates lasting business value across global markets." TCS has been operating in Ireland since 2001 and today employs over 1,100 people across it Dublin, Letterkenny and other regional locations. The company is recognised as one of the largest employers in the Northwest region. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

AI One, the enterprise context management platform that helps organisations give AI the business context it needs to make decisions, has announced it has raised $11 million in total funding. The round includes $7 million in Series A funding with participation from Vestigo Ventures and existing investors. AI One's platform enables large organisations to transform their operations by connecting directly to SaaS platforms like Salesforce and Workday, as well as on-premise and legacy systems, extracting context from fragmented data, and delivering measurable outcomes in weeks, not years. AI One addresses a problem that's become increasingly visible as companies try to move beyond pilots: AI models don't understand the context of the businesses they're deployed in. Despite billions spent on data infrastructure, most enterprises still operate across disconnected systems that make it nearly impossible for AI to make informed decisions. AI One tackles this with a new class of technology called Enterprise Context Management (ECM), which connects directly to existing systems to interpret how data, processes, and policies relate across the organisation. By managing context safely and consistently, the platform enables companies to automate complex workflows and decision-making without costly data migrations or replatforming. It delivers results in as little as 10 weeks and reduces operating costs by up to 80% AI One was founded in 2024 by Conor Twomey and Fergus Keenan, who spent over 15 years in enterprise data and analytics, and saw the pitfalls of large enterprises over-investing in expensive infrastructure overhauls to drive innovation. "Most companies are brute-forcing AI into workflows by endlessly rewriting generic prompts and connectors - a slow, brittle process that's impossible to scale," says Conor Twomey, Co-founder & CEO at AI One. "AI can only perform as well as the context it understands. We created AI One to give enterprises control over that context so their AI isn't guessing, it's operating with understanding." Since its inception, AI One has already delivered measurable results for its clients: A global bank cut reconciliation errors by 90% in four months, saving millions annually and reducing manual review from 400,000 cases to under 5,000. A healthcare provider reduced member onboarding time from 15 days to 3 days, accelerating revenue recognition and patient access. An insurance group improved its straight-through processing rate from 89% to 97%, shortening claims cycles and boosting customer satisfaction. "AI One is solving one of the hardest problems in enterprise AI: perception," said Mark Casady, General Partner at Vestigo Ventures. "The platform's ability to activate enterprise context without requiring data migration or replatforming is a breakthrough. It turns AI from a concept into measurable business impact in record time." AI One intends to use the funding to expand its customer base, targeting Fortune 500 businesses in financial services, energy, healthcare, insurance, and private equity, and continue to build its platform. The team has grown to 20 employees since inception with recent hires across GTM, platform, and field engineering. See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

On Wednesday, December 3rd, NCI's Mayor Square campus building will host the College's very first Sustainability Day. At this event, live poster presentations will highlight NCI's work in sustainability. These presentations will be followed by an afternoon of skills sharing sessions alongside NCI's annual Bring and Buy Sale in partnership with NCISU. All proceeds from the Bring and Buy Sale will go to a charity nominated by the Students' Union. This event is open to the public. Event Details: When: Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025. Time: 10am to 5pm. Where: NCI's Mayor Square campus building. Who: Open to the public. Free to attend. To view the full schedule of Sustainability Day visit NCI's Event Page. At National College of Ireland, sustainability is not just a buzzword; it's a guiding principle that permeates every aspect of our institution. From our academic programmes to our campus operations, we prioritise sustainability to ensure a thriving future for generations to come. Days such as this give everyone at NCI, staff, students, and faculty, along with friends, family, and community neighbours the chance to come together. While days like this showcase the warm atmosphere that NCI consistently strives to create, it is highly rewarding when these days also serve a good cause. Being aware of sustainability issues and knowing how we can make changes is so important, and as nights grow colder and the festive season approaches, the Bring and Buy Sale allows the NCI community to come together to help others. Every little step creates the bigger picture. Sustainability in Action NCI has put sustainability at the very heart of our 5 Year Strategic Plan. The College aims to become one of the most sustainable third level institutions in the country and will align our teaching, research and campus to ensure sustainable practice across everything we do. "We are excited to welcome the community to NCI for Sustainability Day 2025. Community engagement and education are essential to achieving our sustainability goals. This event not only highlights NCI's own research and work in sustainability but also shares practical skills and ideas to empower the community to contribute through meaningful, everyday changes of their own." ~ Frances Sheridan, Vice Dean for Undergraduate Programmes and Learning and Teaching at NCI's School of Computing. You can learn more about sustainability at NCI by visiting their Sustainability page. #ChangingLivesThroughEducation See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Auxilion, the leading Irish IT managed services provider, has announced the results of its latest survey which reveals that almost a third (31%) of office workers in Ireland use their work device for personal use. The survey of 1,000 office workers in Ireland was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Auxilion and HPE. The research identifies several risky behaviours among office workers that has the potential to put cybersecurity at risk. One common behaviour includes clicking on a suspicious link or email at work, cited by 32% of respondents. One in five (22%) also admitted to using public wi-fi to access sensitive company documents. Over a quarter (26%) have input sensitive company or customer data into an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool. In addition, a third (33%) have used unauthorised tools to get their work done faster. Despite these behaviours, the majority of office workers (73%) are confident in their ability to spot a potential cyber threat. Password protection was also highlighted as an area for concern, with almost a fifth (19%) of office workers admitting to sharing their work password with friends and family. A further 14% have used the same password for both work and personal accounts. While over half of respondents (54%) feel confident in their password security, one in ten do not. As such, it may come as no surprise that 23% organisations have suffered a cybersecurity breach in the last 12 months. This was highest among the public sector at 28%. In addition, 23% of office workers admitted that they did not report a known security breach (i.e. where a cybersecurity attack was successful). With the prevalence of high-risk behaviours among office workers, over half (55%) of companies have run simulated phishing tests to raise awareness about cybersecurity. Despite this, a quarter (25%) of respondents believe their organisation does not have adequate security and data loss prevention measures in place. A third (32%) of office workers also revealed they do not receive regular cybersecurity training from their employer. Martin Patterson, Head of Innovation, Auxilion said: "While it's unsurprising that many employees use work devices for personal tasks, our survey highlights a far greater concern - the ease with which everyday actions, such as opening a link in an email or using AI tools, can expose organisations to security risks. "Human behaviour remains one of the biggest vulnerabilities in cybersecurity. That's why investing in ongoing training and building a culture of awareness are just as important as having the right technology in place. By equipping employees with the knowledge to spot and avoid potential threats, businesses can strengthen their first line of defence." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Ekco, one of Europe's leading security-first managed service providers, has announced the opening of its new headquarters, featuring a state-of-the-art Security Operations Centre (SOC), in Dublin's Grand Canal Dock. The opening comes as Ekco is targeting revenues exceeding €100 million in Ireland and €200 million globally by year-end 2025. Together, the new HQ and SOC will enable Ekco to accelerate its growth in Ireland, boost cyber resilience for businesses, and deliver an enhanced offering to customers. This is Ekco's third global SOC and builds on the success of its existing cybersecurity facilities in the UK and Malaysia. It will help to meet growing customer demand for advanced cybersecurity products and services. The SOC will combine advanced threat detection capabilities with Ekco's expert analysts to identify and respond to threats quickly, and protect businesses from evolving cyber risks. It will also support compliance and enable businesses to align with regulatory requirements, while safeguarding personal and company information. The SOC can automatically take action when serious threats are detected, including isolating affected devices without the need for manual intervention, helping to ensure faster protection. Ekco's incident response team has also grown in order to respond to security incidents more effectively, with responses to potential threats increasing by more than 200% over thepast six months. Following a number of strategic acquisitions in Ireland - amounting to seven in the last two years - the new HQ will provide a central hub for Ekco's approximately 500 employees in Ireland. It will contribute to enhanced collaboration between teams to facilitate more comprehensive customer solutions, while also streamlining processes and service delivery. In addition, the new HQ provides boosted capacity and will enable the company to expand its customer base in Ireland, with plans to increase the number of customers by 15% in 2026. This will include growth in the public, finance, legal, and professional services sectors. Ekco is also on a path of aggressive global growth and is continuing to expand in key international markets including the UK, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the U.S. Steve MacNicholas, CEO Ireland, Ekco, said: "The opening of our new Dublin headquarters signifies our commitment to safeguarding businesses and driving consistent growth for Ekco in Ireland. We are on an exciting acquisition path, supplemented by planned organic growth, and this new hub will provide a central location for employees to collaborate. Furthermore, as our team continues to grow internationally, this state-of-the-art facility cements our commitment to Ireland as a leader in cybersecurity. "The launch of our third SOC represents a significant step for our business as we look to meet the ever-increasing demand for future-ready cybersecurity services. This will enable us to deliver an enhanced service to our customers, ultimately helping businesses to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats, and provide our solutions to an increased client base." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Ahead of the busiest retail weeks of the year, including Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the Christmas shopping period, Bank of Ireland is advising consumers to remain vigilant of purchase scams. Recent analysis by Bank of Ireland's Fraud team revealed that purchase scam cases rose by 47% in the first half of 2025 when compared to the final six months of 2024. The monetary value of losses associated with these scam cases rose by 16%, with consumers being defrauded on items ranging from cosmetics to electronics, garden tools to concert tickets. Online purchases tend to rise in the second half of the year, as Bank of Ireland card spending analysis reveals that online outlay was higher on cosmetics (+34%), and electrical goods (+39%) between July and December 2024 when compared to the first six months of 2025. This consumer trend is emphasised further with online clothes shopping spend 22% higher in the second six months of 2024 when compared to the first half of 2025, as demand for the latest fashions increases as the year draws to a close. Given these spending pattern hikes it is not surprising that many consumers will be looking to grab an on-trend beauty product, the latest fashion item or a tech bargain over the coming weeks. With purchasing overall reaching peak levels, fraudsters take advantage of the increased online retail traffic, targeting these key gifting categories including electronics, beauty products and clothing. They are highly skilled at creating fake websites that appear genuine, displaying the latest "styles" at "keen" prices to lure people into purchasing top-end clothing at seemingly giveaway rates. Once the payment is transferred, the scam is complete and the seller usually cuts all contact, and the product doesn't arrive. Bank of Ireland's advice to customers when making a purchase during the busy retail period: Before paying in full, ensure you have enough information about the item, and where possible, view it in person. Beware of pop-up ads on your social media feed or ads on online market places (fraudsters can pay to have their ads appear there). Go directly to the online shopping site by typing the web address into your web browser. Links in unsolicited emails or on social media are not always safe and should be avoided. Research and read trusted reviews to check the site and the seller are genuine. Try and pay by debit or credit card, as this could give you additional protection such as chargeback claims. Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud, Bank of Ireland said: "With Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas fast-approaching fraudsters will be redoubling their efforts to target people. It's only natural that consumers will be on the lookout to snap up the latest bargains over the coming weeks, but our advice continues to be that if it looks too good to be true, then it probably is. The 47% rise in purchase scams in the first half of this year underlines the need for people to stay vigilant, to buy from trusted outlets and websites, and to avoid complacency when shopping online or in person." Anyone suspecting they have been a victim of fraud should contact their bank immediately so that the bank can try to stop the fraud, and try to recover the funds. Bank of Ireland customers can call the Fraud Team 24/7 on the Freephone line 1800 946 764. See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Fa...

Technology to improve rowing athletes' performances, zero-waste clothing design, and a safer and more comfortable Intrauterine Device (IUD) were among the start-ups highlighted at this year's University College Cork's IGNITE Autumn Showcase. The third-level graduates supported by the university's flagship incubation programme began working on their ideas this year and are hoping to develop them into a company with the assistance of IGNITE. The 2025 Autumn Showcase follows IGNITE's recent success in securing a €1 million Higher Education Authority (HEA) Award for exemplary performance and impact. The HEA evaluated Impact Assessment Case Studies, which were submitted by higher education institutions earlier this year. IGNITE emerged as one of five winning submissions. IGNITE is based at UCC and is open to anyone who has graduated from a third-level institution in recent years and has the passion and ambition to work on an idea that has the potential for economic, environmental or social impact. The annual showcase gives the IGNITE participants an opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs and potential investors. IGNITE has supported nearly 250 founders since it was established in 2011. The programme is a joint initiative by Cork City Council, Cork County Council, the Local Enterprise Offices of Cork City, South Cork and North and West Cork and University College Cork. Eamon Curtin, Director of IGNITE, said: "We are proud at IGNITE to support talented founders in developing their innovative business ideas into scalable and sustainable start-ups that deliver real social and economic value. The HEA Award is a testament to not only the great work carried out by our community of entrepreneurs, but also to the support provided to us by the Local Enterprise Offices, Cork County Council, Cork City Council and Bank of Ireland, without whom the programme would not be possible." Among the 14 start-ups currently supported by University College Cork's IGNITE Start-Up Incubation Programme are: Roteq - founded by Will Gunnarson and Sam O'Neill. Roteq empowers rowing athletes to reach their full potential by providing actionable insights into their performance. By processing data from a phone's built-in sensors, the programme delivers real-time performance metrics. These quantifiable metrics allow instant feedback and tracking of an athlete's technical and physiological progress on the water, making it easier than ever to achieve their goals. The Zero Waster - founded by Sarah O'Neill. Sarah is a designer whose work is grounded in the principles of regenerative design. With a deep-rooted respect for natural materials, traditional craftsmanship, and environmental responsibility, Sarah challenges the norms of the fashion industry through innovative reuse and transparency. Creating unique, wearable pieces from reclaimed and natural materials, showing that waste can be reimagined without compromising creativity or quality. Elithiya - founded by Isabelle Curran. Isabelle is a Product Design & Technology graduate from the University of Limerick and the founder of Elithiya, a women's health innovation focused on redesigning the intrauterine device (IUD) experience. Over the past year, she has collaborated with clinicians, FemTech founders, and patients worldwide to identify gaps in reproductive healthcare and develop a softer, more informed IUD insertion experience through redesigned tools and supportive digital technology. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie no...

HRLocker, Ireland's leading HRIS platform, has announced a strategic partnership with the country's premier payroll services provider, Paycheck Plus by IRIS, to deliver a seamless, end-to-end, integrated payroll and HR experience for SMEs across Ireland and the UK. By uniting HRLocker's management platform with Paycheck Plus's payroll expertise, the partnership addresses a critical gap in the SME market: a lack of integration between HR systems and payroll services. The seamless all-in-one solution eliminates data silos, streamlines processes, and ensures greater accuracy across the employee lifecycle. With a phased rollout in the fourth quarter of 2025, existing customers will benefit from the combined offering in the months ahead. Notably, SMEs will gain a single source of truth for employee data, automated information flow between HR and payroll, and synchronised processes that improve compliance while reducing errors. "This partnership is about giving SMEs clarity and confidence," said HRLocker CEO, Crystel Robbins Rynne. "HRLocker is focused on delivering the practical tools SMEs need to manage growth with accuracy and ease. By connecting HR and payroll into a single solution, we're enabling businesses to spend less time on admin and more time on their people." "Paycheck Plus's mission has always been to simplify payroll for businesses. Partnering with HRLocker extends that simplicity across the entire employee lifecycle, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency for our clients," added IRIS Senior Director, Brona Grogan. "This collaboration reflects IRIS's commitment to improving the way people work by making business processes more efficient. Together, HRLocker and Paycheck Plus are setting a new standard for integrated HR and payroll in Ireland and the UK." As part of the new strategic partnership, HRLocker CEO Crystel Robbins Rynne and Paycheck Plus Lead Product Manager Niall Clarke hosted a free 45-minute webinar on Thursday 20th November at 11am. This informative and practical session will help employers understand and prepare for changing compliance demands arising from Ireland's auto-enrolment pension scheme, which begins on 1 January 2026. For more information, and to receive a recording of the webinar, visit: https://www.hrlocker.com/webinars/auto-enrolment-in-ireland See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

New research published by Repak has revealed that the Irish public will be more eco-conscious this Christmas. Almost 1 in 3 (30%) adults in Ireland are going to upcycle items to gift to a loved one and a similar amount (33%) will buy gifts that can have a second life to ensure that they last longer. Almost 4 in 5 (78%) shoppers see sustainability as an important factor when buying gifts, looking for products that are locally produced and whose packaging is recyclable. This eco-conscious mindset extends beyond gift giving, with almost half of households planning on reducing how much they spend on food and drink in a bid to cut back on waste. The days of buying mountains of wrapping paper are also over, with 57% opting to put presents in reusable or recyclable gift bags and over 4 in 10 (43%) planning on using wrapping paper that they have saved or newspaper to wrap gifts. Two thirds (66%) of the public are also planning on saving and storing gift packaging for next year. Local recycling centres are also set to see a spike in footfall after Christmas day, with two thirds (66%) of households planning to make a visit to dispose of waste. The Irish public is also getting creative with how they are giving their home a festive makeover, with approximately a third (30%) planning on using homemade decorations. Commenting on the research Repak CEO Zoe Kavanagh said: "Irish households are finding creative, thoughtful ways to make Christmas more eco-friendly, from upcycling gifts and reusing wrapping paper to cutting down on food waste. The fact that almost four in five shoppers are actively seeking locally produced and recyclable products speaks volumes about how engrained sustainability is becoming as part of our Christmas planning. At Repak, we want to make recycling simple, and we're here to help households recycle right this Christmas. Small actions like making sure all items are clean, dry and loose before recycling, make a big difference". Approximately 102,000 tonnes of packaging waste will be generated this Christmas and Repak is encouraging households to give back to the environment where possible. To make a real difference, shoppers should focus on recycling the packaging we use most in December: wrapping paper, boxes and mixed packaging. Repak's key Christmas recycling tips to follow are: The golden rule: Clean, Dry and Loose. Separate & flatten: Break down boxes; keep items loose (don't bag out items into each other) Waste in the right place: Check out repak.ie for guidance on what can go into your recycling bin this Christmas. Recycle it all: Cardboard, paper, all plastic, metals, tins and foil belong in your recycling bin. For dedicated Christmas recycling tips, visit repak.ie and follow Repak on TikTok and Instagram for the chance to win a €100 OneAll voucher as they share more top Christmas recycling tips. Instagram: @repakrecycling Facebook: @RepakRecycling See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Ireland's foremost digital marketing event, 3XE Digital, returns this November 26th with a bold new focus on the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence. 3XE AI will take place on Wednesday, November 26th at The Alex Hotel, Dublin, bringing together hundreds of marketers, social media professionals and business leaders to explore how AI is reshaping marketing strategy, creativity and performance. Delegates from top Irish brands including Chadwicks, Kepak, Chartered Accountants Ireland, Sage, The Travel Department, Finlay Motor Group, Hardware Association, and many more have already booked to attend this dynamic one-day conference designed to inspire, educate and empower. The event will be co-chaired by Anthony Quigley, Co-Founder of the Digital Marketing Institute, and Sinéad Walsh of Content Plan. Attendees will hear from leading voices in AI and digital marketing, discovering how to harness new technologies to deliver smarter, more efficient, and measurable campaigns. Key Highlights: Expert speakers from: Google, OpenAI, Content Plan, Women in AI, AI Certified, The Corporate Governance Institute, and more will share their wealth of knowledge on how clever use of AI can significantly improve all digital marketing and social media strategies and campaigns and continue to change how we do business and can massively increase sales. Topics include: ? Winning with AI in Business with Christina Barbosa-Gress, Google ? AI-Powered Operations for Irish SMEs with Denis Jastrzebski, Content Plan ? Education for Unlocking AI's Potential with Ian Dodson, AiCertified ? Practical and Responsible AI with Boris Gersic, Corporate Governance Institute ? The Compliance Edge in the AI Era with Colin Cosgrove, Movizmo Coaching Solutions ? Unlocking AI's True Potential in Business with Naomh McElhatton, Irish Ambassador for Women in AI Adrian Hopkins, Founder, 3XE Digital said, "Reviving the 3XE Digital conference series felt timely, and AI presented the perfect opportunity. Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the entire marketing landscape - enhancing performance, improving efficiency and offering unprecedented creative possibilities. We're excited to bring this crucial conversation to the forefront once again." The 3XE AI Conference, organised in partnership with Content Plan, is proudly supported by Friday Agency, GS1 Ireland, and AI Certified. All details, including full speaker lineup, conference agenda and online bookings are available at https://3xe.ie. Early bookings remain open at 3xe.ie - including group discounts for teams. See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Veonet Ireland has announced the introduction of DR.NOON AI Software by HeartEye Diagnostics - an AI-powered retinal screening system capable of detecting early signs of cardiovascular and diabetic vascular risk from a single, non-invasive eye retinal scan. At a time of high waiting lists for ophthalmology and cardiology, at 53,000 and 45,000 patients respectfully, DR.NOON offers a powerful preventive tool that can identify risk before symptoms appear. Built on clinically validated deep learning algorithms, DR.NOON AI software analyses subtle vascular patterns in the retina to uncover early indications of systemic disease, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, and microvascular changes associated with diabetes. Retinal screening to detect eye disease It delivers instant, AI-driven reports that match the outperform traditional methods in five-year cardiovascular risk prediction. This will include actionable insights for patients, identifying key risk indicators with personalised recommendations for lifestyle modification and disease management. With World Diabetes Day approaching on 14 November, the timing could not be more relevant. Diabetes remains a leading cause of vision loss among working-age adults, yet early detection can prevent over 90% of diabetes-related blindness, as it enables faster referral, timely treatment, and improved long-term outcomes for patients. Regular visits to your optometrist and enrolling in the Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme are as important as attending your diabetic clinic appointments. This is due to the increased risk of glaucoma, cataract and diabetic eye disease as a result of a diabetes diagnosis. "Diabetes, heart disease and vision loss are deeply interconnected, yet often diagnosed too late," explains Dr. Farah Ibrahim, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Veonet Ireland. "DR.NOON AI software changes that landscape - predicting cardiovascular risk for patients through a simple eye scan. This is preventive care in action: faster insights, earlier intervention, and ultimately, fewer patients joining already overstretched waiting lists." To mark its Irish debut, DR.NOON will be showcased at Veonet Ireland's upcoming CPD-accredited event, The Future of Vision: Emerging Advancements in Diabetic Eye Disease, taking place in Cork this Thursday, 13 November. The session will bring together optometrists, nurses, pharmacists and ophthalmic technicians to explore developments in diabetes eye management & experience how AI-driven innovation can reshape multidisciplinary diabetic eye care. You can learn more about the event, and reserve your spot in person or online, here. About Veonet Ireland Part of Veonet, Europe's leading ophthalmology group, Veonet Ireland is dedicated to delivering world-class, affordable, and accessible specialist eye care across Ireland. Founded by renowned ophthalmologists who recognised the value of sharing expertise, networking, and best practices, Veonet continues to advance the quality of ophthalmic care for patients across Europe. Veonet Ireland provides a supportive and positive environment where specialists and staff can grow both personally and professionally. Being a clinically led organisation, it empowers ophthalmologists to shape services and procedures in line with the highest clinical standards. See more breaking stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, Linke...

Pure Telecom, Ireland's high-speed broadband and telecoms provider, has announced new results from its annual Connected Lives survey which reveal that almost a third (32%) of adults in Ireland have shared misinformation online before realising it was false. The growing issue of misinformation has led 87% of adults in Ireland to believe that it is now a serious problem facing modern society. The nationally representative survey of 1,001 adults in Ireland was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Pure Telecom. It explores the role of misinformation in our everyday lives and how it shapes our experiences online. In total, almost half (46%) of adults in Ireland admit that misinformation has influenced their opinions or beliefs in the past. Two-thirds (69%) report that they have seen information online that they initially believed to be true, only to later realise that they had been misled. A similar proportion (65%) have observed misinformation being spread online by people they know. The research identifies AI as a contributing challenge in the era of misinformation. The majority of adults (81%) believe that AI-generated content, which includes the use of deepfakes, makes it harder to distinguish between 'real' and 'fake' news. Despite this, 56% say they can easily spot misinformation online and 72% are confident in their ability to fact check online news articles. But adults in Ireland also believe that social media companies must bear some of the responsibility, with 87% saying social media platforms should do more to prevent the spread of misinformation. The proliferation of misinformation online has led more than a third (37%) of adults to report that they don't trust mainstream online news sources to provide accurate information. The research found that one in 10 now turn to alternative news websites as one of their main sources of news. The most popular way adults in Ireland prefer to receive their news is on TV (46%). This is followed by social media (45%) and radio (35%). Most (79%) said Irish media is a top source for their news media, while 38% cited UK media and 34% cited US media. Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom said: "While the majority of adults believe they can quickly identify misinformation, over-confidence could prove to be a person's greatest weakness. As misinformation becomes a defining challenge of our connected age, we must all apply a healthy degree of scepticism to what we see online to ensure we continue to reap the benefits of the online world. "The internet remains an incredible force for good, connecting communities, enabling learning, and driving innovation. As a provider that keeps people connected, Pure Telecom is passionate about bringing the value of the online world to people, households and businesses across Ireland." See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Venture capital funding into Irish technology SMEs rose by 8% to €207.9m in the third quarter of 2025, compared to the same period last year, according to the Irish Venture Capital Association Venture Pulse survey, published today in association with William Fry. Funding for the nine months to end September fell by 10% to €853.4m from €945.3m the previous year. The total number of deals in the same period fell from 153 to 135. "Third quarter data provided some relief following a dismal second quarter this year when funding fell to €112.6m, its lowest in ten years," commented Caroline Gaynor, chairperson, Irish Venture Capital Association. "Hopefully, we are starting to see some confidence and stability return to the market, but it remains a challenging time for early-stage companies." She added that following the blow to investor confidence caused by the United States' April 2nd tariff shocks, international investors had started to return to the market. International VC investment into Irish SMEs rose to €146.7 m in the current quarter compared to €69.5m in the second quarter of this year. She said that bright spots in the overall data were deals in the €1m- €5m range, which accounted for 30 out of the 39 transactions in this quarter. Transactions in the €1-€3m category rose by 35% to €35.6m compared to the same time last year. Deals in the €3-€5m range increased by 18% to €34.7m. However, funding in the €10m-€30m category fell by two-thirds to €26m while €5-€10m deals dropped by 74% to €13.5m, compared to the same quarter last year. There was better news in the €30m+ category where medtech company, ProVerum raised €62m, and AI machine learning firm, Nory raised €34m. Sarah-Jane Larkin, director general, IVCA, said that while there was some healthy activity, gaps remained in the third quarter, particularly in seed funding and transactions under €1m, both of which disappointed. Seed or first rounds fell by 30% to €23.4m from €33.5m, compared to the same quarter last year. Seed funding for the first nine months was down 31% to €88.3m from €127.2m last year. Despite this shortfall, the IVCA director general said: "The process for deploying the Government's €250m Enterprise Ireland Seed and Venture Capital Scheme 2025-29 is well underway. We are optimistic that the environment for very early stage Irish companies seeking first round funding will pick up in the first half of next year." Lifesciences was the most successful sector to date this year, raising funds of €361.6m or 42% of the total in the first nine months. This was followed by Cybersecurity at €136.3m (16%); AI and machine learning €97m (11%); Fintech €92.2m (11%) and Software €66.2m (8%). More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Keychain, the AI-powered manufacturing platform for the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, today announced a $10 million investment, including funding from W23 Global, the venture capital fund backed by five leading grocery retailers: Tesco, Ahold Delhaize, Woolworths Group, Empire Company Limited/Sobeys Inc., and Shoprite Group. The new funding supports the rollout of Keychain360, a next-generation supply chain and product management platform designed to help retailers develop and manage their private label brands more efficiently. Private label is becoming the fastest-growing segment in retail, yet product development has never been more complex. Consumers demand high-quality, affordable products, and retailers face mounting pressure to deliver them to market quickly. Keychain360 addresses these challenges head-on by unifying product design, sourcing, manufacturing, and compliance into one intelligent operating system. The result is faster launches, fewer bottlenecks, and stronger collaboration across supply chains. "With speed and transparency increasingly shaping the market, Keychain360 gives private label brands the advantage," said Oisin Hanrahan, CEO and Founder of Keychain. "Retailers can now manage their products end-to-end, innovate rapidly, and adapt to consumer preferences and regulatory changes, all within a single connected platform." Built specifically for retailers, Keychain360 delivers the same intelligence and precision that leading manufacturers rely on. By connecting every stage of the product lifecycle, it drives smarter decision-making and execution. A top-ten retailer recently used Keychain to launch more than 100 new products, reducing time-to-market by over two months and improving efficiency across its supplier network. "Keychain's AI-powered platform streamlines private label sourcing and enables retailers to bring quality private label products to customers faster and more efficiently," said Ingrid Maes, CEO and CIO of W23 Global. "As consumer expectations around health, sustainability, and value continue to rise, Keychain's solution helps retailers respond to these expectations effectively while ensuring compliance and product quality." The company has grown exponentially since launching less than two years ago, raising a $30 million Series B, expanding into Ireland and the UK, and introducing KeychainOS, its operating system for manufacturers. With the launch of this third product, Keychain is extending that innovation across the entire retail ecosystem, connecting brands, manufacturers, and retailers through one intelligent, AI-powered network. Today, Keychain's technology is used by eight of the top ten global retailers, plus 7-Eleven and Whole Foods, as well as seven of the top ten CPG brands, including General Mills. The platform now supports over 30,000 manufacturers and 20,000 brands and retailers, helping them bring new products to market faster and with greater precision. As adoption continues to grow, Keychain is defining the next generation of product creation, making it smarter, faster, and more connected than ever before. Interested brands, retailers, and manufacturers can apply to join at www.keychain.com. See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

TechTides, one of the region's most anticipated Technology Conferences, has exceeded all expectations ahead of its upcoming event taking place next Tuesday, 18th November. Originally launched with a target of 350 attendees, the conference has already attracted more than 600 registered participants, marking significant momentum for its inaugural event. TechTides Conference 18th November TechTides brings together innovators, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and technology enthusiasts for a full day of forward-thinking conversations, networking, and insight into emerging trends across the tech ecosystem. The overwhelmingly positive response highlights the growing demand for collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the tech community. "We are absolutely thrilled by the support and excitement we've seen for TechTides," said Alastair Cameron, TechTides Founder. "Reaching 600 plus registrations before event day is a huge milestone for us and a testament to the strength and enthusiasm of the tech community. We can't wait to bring everyone together next Tuesday at the Millennium Forum in Derry for a truly impactful experience" Attendees can expect thought-provoking speaker sessions, industry-focused panels, interactive discussions, and valuable networking opportunities designed to drive innovation and collaboration. With limited time remaining before doors open, anticipation is at an all-time high for what promises to be one of the most dynamic tech gatherings of the year. Event Details: Date: Next Tuesday, 18th November Website: https://techtides.co For press inquiries, speaker information, or partnerships, please contact: alastair@techtides.co 07855833121 About TechTides TechTides is a forward-looking technology conference bringing together innovators, technologists, and visionaries to explore emerging trends, spark collaboration, and shape the future of the industry. It is also the first Major Tech Conference to take place in Derry~Londonderry in over a decade. See more breaking stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Earlier this autumn Billy Lenihan spoke with ORF Radio Austria for their technology programme Digital.Leben about something that has already become part of everyday life in parts of Dublin – coffee, books and takeaways delivered by drone. The short feature, broadcast on 29 October 2025, explored how Irish company Manna has turned what began as a pilot project into a real delivery service.The interview came about after meeting Franz Zeller, Head of Science at Austrian public radio ORF, during Maker Faire Rome 2025. I was in Rome reporting for Irish Tech News, part of an international press delegation supported by the Italian Trade Agency and Innova Camera, the Rome Chamber of Commerce agency that organises the fair.